Backfiring release for automatic starting mechanism



Feb.16,1'937.

W. L. M GRATH BACKFIRING RELEASE FOR AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR )nograth BY M )2? ATTORNEY 7- w. 1.. MQGRATH 2,070,994

BACKFIRING RELEASE FOR AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE/VTOR Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES BACKFIBING RELEASE FOR AUTOMATIC STAB/KING MECHANISM William L. McGrath, Elmira, N. Y., assignor to Eclipse Machine Company, Elmira, N. 1.,

poration of New York Application January :9, 1932, Serial No. 589,739

' 1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to a backfiring release for automatic starting mechanism and more particularly to a device for preventing operation of an automatic starting mechanism during back- 5 ward rotation of the engine to be started.

It is an object oi the present invention to provide a novel backfire release which is simple and economical in construction and positive and reliable in operation.

Another object is to provide such a device which may readily be applied to existing types oi! automatic starting mechanism without extensive alteration thereof.

. A further object is to provide such a device which is entirely mechanical in its operation.

Another object is to provide such a device which cooperates with the automatic. starting mechanism in such manner that the usual time delay is interposed between the release 01 the backfire releasing mechanism and the reoperation of the automatic starting mechanism.

A further object is to provide such a device in which the usual control elements 01 the automatic starting mechanism are operated by a manual connection with the engine whereby the automatic starting mechanism is rendered in operative in response to backward rotation oi the engine.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in connection'with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic showing oi! a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating means for the backfire release being shown in section substantially on the line |--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing a modified form of operating means for the backfire release with the parts in their normal or inoperative positions, sectioned on line 3-3 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the positions of the parts during backward rotation of the engine;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions assumed when backward rotation oi the engine ceases;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions assumed when the engine comes to rest after rearward rotation thereof; and

Fig. 7 is a side view partly in section on the line l--1 of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Referring first to Fig. l of the drawings, there is illustrated an electrical starting system for an internal combustion engine, not shown, including a battery I, grounded at 2 and connected by a lead 3 to an automatic starting mechanism indicated generally at 4, including a magnetic 5 starting switch 5. Starting switch 5 is connected through a single turn coil 8 and a lead I to a starting motor SM which is grounded at I to complete the starting circuit.

Starting switch I is actuated by a solenoid I 10 which is energized irombattery I by a control circuit including battery lead 8, ignition switch ll, leads l2 and I3, stationary contact I and movable contact I! on spring strip it which is grounded at ll to complete the control circuit.

Means are provided for preventing energization of the solenoid 9 to close the starting switch 5 while the engine is sell-operative. Such means are here shown as a lever II pivoted at I9 and arranged to be operated by a plunger 2i whereby a roller 22 on the end or said lever engages a weight member 23 on the end 01' the spring strip and bends the same backward, moving contact II out 01 engagement with contact I, thus breaking the control circuit. Plunger 2| is op- 25 erated by a voltage coil 24 which is connected by a lead 28 to the starting motor side of the starting switch I and which is grounded at 26. Plunger 2! is retained in its lower position while the engine is self-operative by a generator coil 30 21 connected by a lead 28 to the generator G and also grounded at 28.

Means are also provided for preventing the immediate reactuation oi the starting mechanism when the engine stops, in order to allow time for the engine to stop oscillating and come completely to rest. As here illustrated, this means comprises the weight 23 pendulously mounted on the spring strip i8 and arranged to be set in vibration by the release oi the lever i8 whereby the control circuit is not efiectively closed until the weight 23 has, ceased vibrating. This time delay period is predetermined to allow suflicient time for the engine to come completely to rest.

According to the present invention, means are provided (or actuating the lever element l8 to open the control circuit in case of backward rotation of the engine which may be caused by backfiring thereof or by other unusual conditions. As here shown, this means comprises a member such as a collar 29 mounted on a rotary element of the engine such as a shaft ll for limited backward rotation therewith, and a mechanical connection such as a Bowden wire I! from the collar 29 to the lever II. Collar 29 is normally retained in its forward or releasing position by yielding means such as a spring II, this position being defined by an adjustable stop II which engages a pin II fixed to said collar. Collar 29 is frictionally connected to a sleeve II as by means of friction shoes I1, and sleeve II is connected by means of an overrunning clutch including pivoted dogs II with a collar II which is suitably keyed to shaft II as indicated at II. The dogs II are so arranged that backward rotation of shaft II will carry the sleeve II therewith, but forward rotation of said shaft causes the dogs to overrun the sleeve and to be moved outward by centrifugal force so as not to engage the sleeve while the engine is self-operative in a forward direction.

I Backward rotation of shaft II is thus transmitted frictionally to the collar 2I which rotates backward until the pin II engages a stop pin I2, whereupon further backward rotation of the sleeve II serves merely to hold the pin II against the stop. This angular movement of the collar 2I operates the Bowden wire I2 by reason of its connection therewith at II, and the motion of wire I2 is transmitted to the lever II by means of a lost motion connection II. The connection II provides for lost motion between lever II and wire I2 in order to allow Mover II to be operated in the usual manner by the plunger 2I when the engine is normally selfoperative. I

' The Bowden wire I2 is provided with an adjustable stop II for limiting the motion of said shaft in a direction to operate the lever II.

In the operation of the invention as so far described. and starting with the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1, closure of the ignition switch II causesenergization of the solenoid I to close the starting switch I, causing the engine to be cranked. If the engine starts properly, the lever II is moved downward-by the plunger II to open contacts II, II in the usual manner, and the plunger 2I is retained in this position by the generator coil 21. If the engine should backfire, however, the generator coil 21 is inoperative to hold the plunger'II in its lower position, and the lever II would be released to allow reactuation of the starting mechanism. The backward rotation of the engine shaft II, however, is transmitted to the collar 2I which actuates the Bowden wire I2 come to rest against contact II. In order to take care of a case in which the engine should come to rest at the end of a rearward oscillation, such that the lever II is retained in its lower position, an emergency connection for the control circuit may be provided to secure restarting. Such a connection is here illustrated in the form of a push button II which may be. located conveniently to the operator, depression of which will complete the control circuit whereby restarting of the engine will take place.

In Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive there is illustrated a modified form of operating means for the Bowden wire I2 whereby the operation of the device is completely automatic so that the push button It is unnecessary and so that a quick release of the Bowden wire I2 is provided. This quick release assures the normal operation of the lev r I in vibrating the weight 23 to secure the usual time delay in the case of backfire, the same as in the case of engine stall after normal operation.

Referring first to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the Bowden wire I2 instead of being connected directly' to the collar 28 is pivoted at II to the end of a lever II which is hinged at II to said collar. Lever II is Yieldably urged toward its normal position as shown in Fig. 3 by suitable means such as a spring II and is held in such position by means of a latch I2 pivoted at 53 to the collar 28 and having a nose II normally extending over the tip II'of lever II. Latch I2 is yieldably urged against a stop I6, defining its locking position, by means such as a spring 51. In this embodiment of the invention, collar 29 is yieldably-maintained by the spring II with its pin II against the stop II in the same manner as previously described, and is provided with the frictional one-way connection to the engine shaft II as previously. described, this connection being illustrated in section in Fig. '7.

Means for releasing the Bowden wire connection between the collar 2I and lever II when backward rotation of the engine ceases is provided in the form of a bracket II fixedly mounted in such a position that a finger II thereon will engage the inner end of latch I2 just prior to the time when pln II of collar 2I engages the backstop I2. Referringto Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that latch I2 is thus withdrawn from its engagement with lever II, allowing the lever to move out until the tip II thereof engages beneath a retaining lug II on bracket II. These parts are so shaped that their engagement is 'maintained as shown in Fig. 4 during the backward rotation of shaft II, but when such backward rotation ceases, the first oscillatory movement in a forward direction disengagezthe lever II from the lug II as shown in Bowden wire II is yieldably urged toward its normal position by suitable means such as a compression'spring'II which is sumciently strong to overcome the efiect of spring II,. swinging the lever II into the position shown in Fig. 5, and returning the Bowden wire to its normal position when thelever II is released from the lug In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, starting with the parts in their positions illustrated in Fig. 3, backward rotation of shaft II causes the collar 2I to be rotated in the y direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 until the latch I2 eas -8 therele'asing bracket II, whereupon the latch I2 is withdrawnfrom lever II and the latter is retained only by its engagement with the lug u on bracket n, as illustrated in 4. I This movement of the-lever II is transmitted to the Bowden wire I2 to operate lever II (Fig. 1). An extensible connection II is preferably provided in order to allow motion of the lever II with collar 2I after the stop II has prevented further motion of Bowden wire I2.

This position of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 4, with the automatic starting mechanism rendered inoperative by the retraction of the lever II, is maintained as long as the backward rotation of the engine persists. However, when this rotation stops, the initial forward oscillation of thereupon snaps up to' its normal position, releasing the weight member 23 and allowing the contacts II, II to close when said weight member stops vibrating. Further oscillation of the engine prior to coming to rest will oscillate collar II, but this oscillation will not affect the Bowden wire I2 since at this time, as shown in Fig. 6, the lever I is free to pivot about its hinge 40.

After the expiration of the time delay as determined by the vibration of weight 23, the starting mechanism is reactuated, whereupon the forward rotation of shaft II allows collar 20 to be returned to its normal position by spring 33, whereupon lever I is drawn down by spring ll until its tip I! is again engaged beneath the nose of latch 52 indicated in PM. 3.

Although certain forms of the'invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:-

1. An automatic starting system for internal combustion engines including a starting switch,

means for opening said switch when the engine starts, and a mechanical connection between a moving part of said engine and an element of said opening means, arranged to operate said opening means upon reverse rotation of the engine. i

2. An automatic starting system for internal combustion engines including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a pair of contacts, means for opening said contacts when, the engine starts, and a connection between a moving part of said engine and said opening means, arranged to operate said opening means upon reverse rotation of the en ine.

3. An automatic starting system for an internal combustion engine having a rotating part, including a starting switch, a member connected to said rotating part (or backward rotation therewith, and means whereby backward rotation of said member causes said starting switch to be opened.

4. An automatic starting system for an internal combustion engine having a rotathis part, including a starting switch, a member having a one-way driving connection with the rotating part which is effective during reverse rotation of said part, and means responsive to reverse rotation of said member for opening said starting switch.

5. An automatic starting system for an internal combustion engine having a rotating part, including a starting switch, a member having a one-way driving connection with the rotating part which is eflective during reverse rotation of said part, means for opening the starting switch when the engine starts, and means for actuating said opening means responsive to reverse rotation of said member.

6. an automatic for an internal combustion engine having a rotating part, including a starting switch, a member connected to said rotating part for backward rotation there-- with, means responsive to backward rotation of said member for holding said starting switch open, and means for delaying reclosure of said starting switch for a predetermined time after such backward rotation ceases.

7. An automatic starting system for an internal combustion engine having a rotating part,

including a starting switch, means responsive to backward rotation of said part for opening said switch, and means whereby subsequent forward rotation thereof releases said opening means. 1

8. An automatic starting system for an internal combustion engine having a rotating part, including a starting switch, means responsive to backward rotation of said part for opening said switch, means whereby subsequent forward rotation thereof releases said opening means, and means for delaying reciosure of the starting switch until a predetermined time after the release of said opening means.

9. In combination with an automatic starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, means for preventing operation of the automatic starting mechanism during backward rotation of the engine, and means for releasing said preventing means upon subsequent forward oscillation of the engine.

10. In combination with an automatic start- .ing mechanism for an internal combustion engine, means for preventing operation of the automatic starting mechanism during backward rotation of the engine, means for releasing said preventing means upon subsequent forward oscillation thereof, and means responsive to forward operation of the engine for restoring said preventing means to operative condition.

11. In an automatic starting system for internal combustion engines, an element adapted to be operated to prevent actuation of the starting mechanism, operating means for said element responsive to self-operation of the engine, operating means for said element responsive to backward rotation ofthe engine.-and means for releasing said element when the backward rotation of the engine stops.

12. In an automatic starting system for internal combustion engines, an element adapted to be operated to prevent actuation of the starting mechanism, operating means for said element responsive to self-operation of the engine, operating means for said element responsive to backward rotation of the engine, including a member moved by such backward rotation. an operative connection between said member and said element, and means for disabling said connection when the backward rotation of the engine ceases.

18. In an automatic starting system for internal combustion engines. an element adapted to be operated to prevent actuation of the starting mechanism, operating means for said element responsive to self-operation of the engine, oper-- ating means for saidelement responsive to backward rotation of the engine including a member moved by such backward rotation, an operative connection between said member and said element, means for disabling said connection when the backward rotation of the engine ceases, and

means responsive to subsequent forward rotation of the engine for reestablishing said connection. l4.-In combination, an internal combustion engine having'a movable part, an automatic starting mechanism for said engine including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit there-- for including a pair of contacts, means operated by said engine part for opening said contacts,

15. In combination, an internal combustion engine having a rotatable part, an automatic starting mechanism for said engine including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a pair of contacts, means responsive to reverse rotation of the engine for opening said contacts, and means ior,vibrating said contacts to delay effective closure thereof for a predetermined time after cessation of said reverse rotation.

16. In combination, an internal combustion engine having a movable part, an automatic starting mechanism for said engine including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a pair of contacts, one of which is pendulously mounted and biased to closed position, and means operated by said engine part for swinging said pendulously mounted contact to open saidcontacts.

17. In combination, an internal combustion engine having a rotatable part, an automatic starting mechanism for said engine including a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a pair of contacts, one of which is pendulously mounted and biased to closed position, means operated by reverse rotation of said engine part for swinging said pendulously mounted contact to open said contacts, and means effective on the cessation of such reverse rotation for quickly releasing said contact to cause vibration thereof prior to closing of the contacts.

WHLIAM L. McGR A'I'I-I. 

